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Critical Responses

Critical responses

In dealing with the menace of terrorism, clarity is finally emerging at the institutional level. The army chief`s speech last year on Independence Day was encouraging as he stressed clarity…

Dead Or Disappeared

Dead or disappeared

When President Asif Ali Zardari signed into law the Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation, 2011, almost nobody noticed. Then, as now, Pakistan was in the midst of its…

ECP Can Make History

ECP can make history

There is now widespread consensus within Pakistan that critical to a well-functioning democracy, and to Pakistan’s stability and progress, is that elected officials must be held to the highest possible…

The Judiciary & Military

The judiciary & military

Is there a connection between the Supreme Court’s recent order against the prime minister in the rental power case and Maulana Tahirul Qadri’s long march? Is the “new anti-democratic establishment”…

ECP: A Case Of Acquired Helplessness

ECP: a case of acquired helplessness

For any system to survive, it must fulfil at least two minimum requirements. Meet the needs of its customers and have the capacity to improve itself. The first requirement relates…

New Bailout Package

New bailout package

The government, at the fag end of its tenure, has reportedly invited International Monetary Fund (IMF) for negotiating a three-year bailout programme. It is a rather surprising move, especially its…

The Fulminations Of Tahirul Qadri

The fulminations of Tahirul Qadri

The politicians of Pakistan are incapable of saying anything without indulging in coloured phrases of rhetorical exaggeration. The pathetic grandiloquence of their speeches is invariably laced with barbs against their…

A Weapon-free Karachi?

A weapon-free Karachi?

According to media reports 2,500-3,000 people fell victim to violence in Karachi in 2012.Ironically, the same year in September UN member states adopted a treaty pledging to rid the world…

In Terror Of The Mob

In terror of the mob

The violent phenomenon of mob justice is evident when a group of people (sometimes in the hundreds) take the law into their own hands, and act as accuser, judge and…

Tax Delinquents

Tax delinquents

A resident of Alberta, Canada, has posed a question through email that deserves a detailed and satisfactory reply. The statement quoted in this mail, though based on misunderstanding, reflects sadly…